Parliament has passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
The controversial legislation aims to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities, but it was passed with newly introduced amendments that shield specific professionals and institutions from legal sanctions.
Under the newly approved changes, individuals providing legal counsel or representation to LGBTQ+ persons are exempt from punishment.
The legislation also protects journalists and media organisations covering LGBTQ+-related developments in their professional capacities, as well as medical professionals—including those offering surgical, psychological, and counselling services to the LGBTQ+ community.
The passage of the bill faced fierce resistance from the Minority Caucus.
Opposition lawmakers argued that the fresh amendments effectively admit that the original draft of the bill—which was previously submitted to former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for assent—was fundamentally flawed and unfit for purpose.
Despite these objections, the parliamentary majority successfully pushed the amended bill through to final passage.
The legislation will now await a decision on executive assent from the presidency.